Marc
Nothing like a little Springsteen to soothe the soul.
This Week In Album Reviews:
(1) Superchunk, "here's to shutting up" : I dig bands getting older and staying together. It's refreshing to see where they end up taking themselves. I was first turned onto Superchunk about 7 or 8 years ago. First I bought "No Pocky For Kitty" which contains a definite top ten-ner in "Skip Steps 1 & 3". Compare that to "Phone Sex" on the new album, and you wouldn't think you were listening to the same band (save Mac's vocals). But that's what makes me like it so much. They've let their sound expand and grow, and it's beautiful. A definite buy - if you have the money.
(2) Planes Mistaken For Stars, "Fuck With Fire" : 1 of 2 albums this week where I ate crow. I always pre-judge bands, for some reason. Always have. Probably not going to stop. For some reason I held this grudge against Planes. I think it had something to do with people I don't like (pretentious folk - we all know the kind) being way too into PMFS. Just kind of set me back a little. Things lead to things, and I ended up in a band with a guy who used to play in the pre-PMFS band. Gared even sang one of their old songs at a show with us in Peoria, Illinois (their original hometown). So, as of this week, I decided to bury my ridiculous little hatchet with the band and buy their new full-length, and I've once again come to the general conclusion that I don't know shit. This record completely kicks my ass everytime I put it on. Good for angry days, or days where you just want to rock on your way to wherever, or days where you want to drive around and look intimidating by playing really loud, really intense music. Not recommended for sleeping purposes - unless you're one of those fucking weirdos that can sleep through a train wreck.
(3) Bob Dylan, "Blonde On Blonde" : 2 of 2 in the crow-eating dept. I'll have to admit that I bought this album because I can't get that Jack Black quote from High Fidelity out of my head. "YOU DON'T OWN BLONDE ON BLONDE!?" It's taken me a while to get into it, but I like it. Can't get the chorus from "Rainy Day Women #12" out of my head - and I've never been stoned. So, take from that what you will.
(4) Bruce Springsteen, "Born To Run" : I credit Napster for plugging me into Springsteen again. Not since the mid-80's have I listened to him so much. I doubt my mom still has my old Born in the USA tape lying around. It's amazing that it never got eaten up by the tape player in the living room or my bedroom (both were notoriously hungry fuckers). I'm fairly certain that I can say that Springsteen's masterful songwriting work in Born to Run and Nebraska would've gone completely over my head as a mindless 8 year old. But now, I can fully appreciate it. The guy pours it all out, and brings it back to the working class in BTR. This one moves immediately into my Top 5. "You hear that Laura?" If you can listen to "Thunder Road" and not have some kind of emotional reaction, there's something wrong with you.
Nothing like a little Springsteen to soothe the soul.
This Week In Album Reviews:
(1) Superchunk, "here's to shutting up" : I dig bands getting older and staying together. It's refreshing to see where they end up taking themselves. I was first turned onto Superchunk about 7 or 8 years ago. First I bought "No Pocky For Kitty" which contains a definite top ten-ner in "Skip Steps 1 & 3". Compare that to "Phone Sex" on the new album, and you wouldn't think you were listening to the same band (save Mac's vocals). But that's what makes me like it so much. They've let their sound expand and grow, and it's beautiful. A definite buy - if you have the money.
(2) Planes Mistaken For Stars, "Fuck With Fire" : 1 of 2 albums this week where I ate crow. I always pre-judge bands, for some reason. Always have. Probably not going to stop. For some reason I held this grudge against Planes. I think it had something to do with people I don't like (pretentious folk - we all know the kind) being way too into PMFS. Just kind of set me back a little. Things lead to things, and I ended up in a band with a guy who used to play in the pre-PMFS band. Gared even sang one of their old songs at a show with us in Peoria, Illinois (their original hometown). So, as of this week, I decided to bury my ridiculous little hatchet with the band and buy their new full-length, and I've once again come to the general conclusion that I don't know shit. This record completely kicks my ass everytime I put it on. Good for angry days, or days where you just want to rock on your way to wherever, or days where you want to drive around and look intimidating by playing really loud, really intense music. Not recommended for sleeping purposes - unless you're one of those fucking weirdos that can sleep through a train wreck.
(3) Bob Dylan, "Blonde On Blonde" : 2 of 2 in the crow-eating dept. I'll have to admit that I bought this album because I can't get that Jack Black quote from High Fidelity out of my head. "YOU DON'T OWN BLONDE ON BLONDE!?" It's taken me a while to get into it, but I like it. Can't get the chorus from "Rainy Day Women #12" out of my head - and I've never been stoned. So, take from that what you will.
(4) Bruce Springsteen, "Born To Run" : I credit Napster for plugging me into Springsteen again. Not since the mid-80's have I listened to him so much. I doubt my mom still has my old Born in the USA tape lying around. It's amazing that it never got eaten up by the tape player in the living room or my bedroom (both were notoriously hungry fuckers). I'm fairly certain that I can say that Springsteen's masterful songwriting work in Born to Run and Nebraska would've gone completely over my head as a mindless 8 year old. But now, I can fully appreciate it. The guy pours it all out, and brings it back to the working class in BTR. This one moves immediately into my Top 5. "You hear that Laura?" If you can listen to "Thunder Road" and not have some kind of emotional reaction, there's something wrong with you.
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